What is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism, also known as “alcohol dependence,” is an obsessive craving to consume alcohol. Alcohol abuse, at one time, was viewed primarily as a moral problem. Although today, most medical researchers view alcoholism as a disease that activates obsessive-compulsive neural behavior.
According to federal data, less than a third of all people with alcohol problems receive treatment for their addiction, and 18 million Americans have an alcohol abuse disorder.
Not only is alcoholism chronic, but it’s also deadly. In the United States alone, an estimated 95,000 people (approximately 68,000 men and 27,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually.
Signs of alcoholism
Not all alcohol abusers turn into Alcoholics, but regular excessive drinking can be a significant sign and risk factor. Periods of legal and financial trouble, stress, anxiety, and depression will cause people to seek relief from substance abuse.
In alcoholism, regular use increases one’s tolerance and lowers the person’s ability to manage their drinking problem. Still, just as often, this habit arrives in late teens or early adulthood. It may develop slowly and then accelerates to the point of addiction, which has both mental and physical components.
Studies have shown that you substantially increase the risk of developing a true addiction to alcohol if you drink every day. Here are some indicators:
- Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
- Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
- Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
- Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (eye-opener)?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it might suggest that you might have an alcohol problem. If you answered “yes” to more than one question, it’s likely that a problem exists.
Causes Of Addiction
Emotional causes
There’s a common saying among groups of recovering addicts that addiction is primarily born from a desire not to feel one’s feelings.
Most people addicted to drugs and alcohol describe overwhelming anxiety or fear as part of their earliest childhood memories.
The ability to calm or manage these intense emotions is impossible until the addict uses drugs or alcohol for the first time. Then, a sense of ease and comfort from using instantly gives the person an escape from feelings of stress or inadequacy and quickly becomes dependent.
So, becoming free of addiction often means learning to process the emotions life brings our way daily. It’s hard to overstate how paralyzing emotional processing can be for people who have not truly done it since childhood.
Sitting with uncomfortable feelings like fear or anxiety and not using drugs to manage or numb those feelings can be terrifying for people in addiction recovery.
Most recovering addicts realize that it’s not only the negative emotions they have been numbing for many years but the positive ones. Because, at its core, life is about balance, we cannot expect to experience feelings of joy and happiness without also sharing things like fear, anxiety, or loss.
Successfully going through the torture of addiction and the relief and bliss in recovery is why so many addicts describe the process of becoming sober as being reborn.
So strong are these feelings of transformation that people in recovery often exchange their sobriety date for their birthday in terms of personal importance.
Is alcoholism genetic?
The genetics factor is one causative explanation for why alcoholism tends to run in families. Other contributing factors include a person’s early childhood development and home environment. If one’s parent(s) have used alcohol to manage their emotions, this behavior is often learned by the children as a way of dealing with stress and anxiety.
Dealing with stress and anxiety is part of life. One’s family and work environment have proven to be major factors. Whether it’s the pressure caused by money, trouble, family, or work, the ability to easily obtain alcohol only contributes to the Alcoholics dilemma.
Is there a cure for alcoholism?
No. Recovering from alcoholism is an ongoing process. Recovery requires commitment, time, a support network, and a sincere desire to get well again.
How long does recovery take?
There is no set time for recovery from alcoholism. However, there are stages to the alcohol recovery process and everyone’s recovery time is different. Some experts believe that thirty days is the minimum amount of time needed to detox and make a beginning on treatment. Others believe a three-month period is the optimum length of stay to be most effective.
The one thing everyone agrees on, recovery will rarely be successful unless the Alcoholic possesses a fierce desire to stop drinking. This desire, however small at first, must be present in the person addicted to alcohol. It will not be enough for family members or friends to want an alcoholic to get sober. The alcoholic person must have the desire to stop drinking.
Costs of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation
An estimated cost range for inpatient care can run from $2,000 to $20,000 for a 30-day program. Outpatient can range from no charge to $10,000. Detox can range from $300-$1,000 a day.
Different rehabilitation programs accept different types of insurance. Insurance plans differ from one plan to another and cover different percentages of the recovery treatment.
The rehabilitation program’s cost depends on several factors, such as the type of treatment you choose and the length of your stay.
Group insurance plans
Group insurance plans include coverage for drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act mandates that health insurance companies provide some degree of alcohol and drug addiction treatment as a component of their group insurance plans. Some insurance companies have more fully complied with this law than others.
A few insurance companies include alcohol treatment in their insurance plans: Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna Health Partners, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Amerihealth.
Affordable care act
Mental health, including substance abuse disorders (drug and alcohol), is covered by Obama Care. These services include treatments such as psychotherapy and counseling. They also include mental and behavioral health inpatient services and substance use disorder treatment.
Non-profit rehabilitation centers
Suppose big insurance company premiums are not available or affordable. In that case, non-profit rehabilitation services provide affordable treatment for the recovery process. Since the treatment option is categorized as a non-profit, it relies heavily on outside funding, including grants and donations.
The primary benefit of non-profit addiction treatment is its overall cost. However, the availability of such programs is quite limited, and finding one close to home can be difficult.
Alcoholic anonymous
Since its beginnings in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous has helped several million people transform their lives. The focus of AA is to create a secure environment that supports people who have taken the first step toward getting sober.
Meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous take place every day in communities around the world. AA is completely free of charge, existing on donations from members. If you desire to quit your alcohol abuse, you can become a member.
The AA’s journey for you or a loved one can begin with a phone call to your local AA service office.
Much of AA’s success is due to the effectiveness of the twelve-step program. Newcomers are not asked to accept the twelve-step program until they feel ready. They are only asked to attend the meetings with an open mind and heart.
Medication therapy
Alcohol abuse is a disease that is said to be treatable through counseling, therapy, and medication. It is said that medication can aid one in avoiding relapse. However, relapse still occurs in a significant portion of this type of patient population. Again, there is no single medication for curing alcoholism.
The medications, naltrexone and acamprosate, have been reported to reduce cravings for alcohol by manipulating the brain’s chemistry. But recently, researchers have questioned their efficacy and the overall lack of awareness among doctors concerning these types of drugs.
The most commonly used medications are tranquilizers called benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium), which aid patients during the withdrawal period. Always consult with a doctor if you choose to use medications, as there can be harmful side effects.
Alcohol treatment centers
There are many types of treatment and rehabilitation centers available. All alcohol rehabilitation centers offer their treatment on a confidential basis.
It is one of the most well-respected treatment centers in the world. The Hazelden Betty Ford Center has been known for its successful treatment since its opening in October 1982.
With locations throughout the United States, it is considered one of the finest non-profit providers of alcohol addiction treatment to tens of thousands of people each year, regardless of age.
